The Braves announced Thursday that infielder/outfielder Micah Johnson has been claimed off waivers by the Reds. Cincinnati has plenty of open space on its 40-man roster, so a corresponding move isn’t needed to accommodate his addition.
Once considered the second baseman of the future for the White Sox, Johnson went from Chicago to the Dodgers by way of the three-team trade that sent Todd Frazier to the Reds to the ChiSox. Johnson spent the 2016 season in the Dodgers’ organization but was flipped to Atlanta last January. He enjoyed a solid run with Atlanta’s Triple-A affiliate, hitting .289/.377/.400 in a small sample of 155 plate appearances but also missed a significant portion of the year due to a fractured left wrist.
He simply didn’t have a role in Atlanta’s future plans.
looking more and more like quad-A so outside of organizational filler I’m guessing that he doesn’t really have a role in to many teams plans.
Reds though should have a opening for at least a chance with Cozart hitting free agency and Senzel likely a quarter to half season away.
It’s really just a depth move. At most he’ll be a utility IF/OF guy, who pinch runs occasionally.
With apparent infield starters being Eugenio Suarez (3b), Peraza (SS/2b), Scooter Gennett (2b)… Dilson Herrera (2b) will be out of options and likely to get a bench spot. Senzel will be around eventually, as you said. Alex Blandino (2b/3b) is arguably more deserving of a shot than Micah Johnson.
Sure there’s a chance for Micah Johnson to get a job. Just not much of one :) There’s already a bit of a traffic jam of guys who are younger than him despite both hitting and fielding better. I’d argue the guys listed above have fewer red flags than Johnson.
The Reds have been brilliant in waiver pickups – Alfredo Simon (who they flipped for Suarez, Dan Straily (who they flipped for Castillo and Scooter Gennett, who was outstanding. This is more than just a depth move
Don’t get ahead of yourself. They’ve claimed plenty of junk like any other team as well.
Braves could trade with Marlins::::::::::::::;;;;Kemp,I.Anderson and Muller for Stanton. Trade Kakes to O’s for T.Scott. Sign FA Fister.
Marlins could trade Stantons contract for Kemps
What the hell? Where did this come from?
If Stanton is deal the return better be for multiple top 50 prospects or a young proven player.
Though were does one go from a quad A middle infielder to dealing Stanton for peanuts.
have you seen stanton’s price tag?? 200 mil over 10 years, if a team takes on the whole contract you’re not getting any more than 2 top 30 org prospects, sorry to let you down
have you seen stanton’s contract?? 200 mil/10 yrs… if a team takes on a contract like than the other team definitely isn’t getting much in return
I just saw a trade proposal invite involving Kemp for Stanton…I feel better about myself.
I’ll trade you my worst player for your best player. Who would say no to that
While I think Kemp should go to the AL and DH, it is becoming obvious that the Marlins want to dump Stanton’s salary. They could take on Kemp and shave $114 million between now and 2022. Given Stanton’s previous three years (2014-2016) of not staying on the field, not hitting in the clutch, and not being able to hit above average pitching .. the Marlins would love to dump his salary on someone, especially if they could wrangle a prospect or two. Other MLB teams that are not cash-strapped, no, but the Marlins MUST get rid of him to eventually compete. Bet on that..
That being said, there is no way the Braves trade for Stanton. They have some salary space, but they cannot afford one player being responsible for 20 some percent of their payroll going to a guy like Stanton.
Not sure what happened there, but the Other line should have been at the end of the second paragraph and not the first.
Bet on this. The marlins will get a hell of a lot more than “matt kemp and a prospect or two”
I honestly wouldn’t be shocked to see Johnson break camp with the Reds. He has versatility, he’s out of options and he’s the only left-handed hitter currently competing for a bench spot.
At the very least those qualities improve his chances. Its probably the best landing spot that he could have hoped for.
Too bad Micah Johnson didn’t clear N.L. waivers and fall to an A.L. club where he might have a better chance to succeed as a lead-off hitting LF/DH. I was hoping he might get another opportunity with the White Sox in 2018 as something other than a second baseman.
Johnson had profiled as the White Sox top lead-off hitting candidate as a member of their organization until being traded during the 2015-2016 offseason. His BA/OBP and SB numbers were unsurpassed in the minors but he could never perform adequately enough defensively at 2B, in part due to chronic elbow issues since his college days at Indiana University.
If Johnson could land with a team that provides him with an opportunity to win the LF or DH role and he could somehow manage to avoid another unfortunate health issue he might yet fulfill his ceiling as an elite top of the order hitter in MLB.